Woven wire fabric machine



. June 30, 1931. F. E. WILLlTS 1,312,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet l 9mm BY 0'A TTORNE Y June 30, 1931. w -rs 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15. 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30,1931. F, E, WILUTS 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYJune 30, 1931. w s 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE.

Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. W

ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. I w L -rs I 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 illll :9

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9W0 By ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. I E, w rrs 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed.Nav. 1% 1927 12 Sheets-vSheet 6 '7 a381/ INVLNTOR. 9W 6? b oauw AQAW W A TTORNEY June 30, 1931. v w rrs1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 M E igggg T in ag-1 A: AQMAM A TTORNEYS June 30, 1931. w L n-s 1,812,506

' WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 1-5, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 ,f/lr I l 7 77 fi 14 #7 7 76 75 H 7 a /;fif;/ 4 1 1(5) 3 75 5 z 73 "KAT-w l72 I gi .& 6.6 6.7- m l i j i 27 v "'uw/ vT0/? I l 3 t I BY WWWATTORNEYS 1931- F. E. .WILLITS 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 192'! 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNE Y June 30, 1931; F. E. WILLITS WOVEN WIRE FAB RIC' MACHINE FiledNov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 W WH 1 VENTOR.

ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. F. 'E. wlLLrrs 1,812,506

' WOVEN WIRE- FABRIC MACHINE} Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 sheets-sheet 11ATTORNEYS June 30, 1931. F; E. WILLITS- 05- WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINEvFiled Nov. 15, 192'? 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 f 1g. E E- INVENTOR fi m/J9 d. m

A TTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK E. WILLITS, OFFAIRPORT, NEW YORK WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Application filed November15, 1927f Serial No. 233,354.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making wovenfabrics and, more particularly, with reference to some of its details,it relates to improvements in automatio machines for making woven wirefabric, or netting.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine of theclass mentioned which is of such an improved construction as to producea fabric of superior qualities at an increased rate of productionthereby minimizing production costs.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class mentioned havingan improved construction and arrangement of parts whereby it operatessubstantially automatically and requires Very little adjustment orattention during operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of theclass mentioned, an

improved mechanism and method of assembling the warp and filler, or weftstrands in intermeshing relation to form the woven fabric.

Another object is to provide,'in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved mechanism for deflecting the warp strands from their normalplane under tension in such a manner as to provide a plurality oftransversely extending longitudinally related passage ways, or sheds,through which the filler strands may be fed into intermeshing relation.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide an improved dieconstruction for fabric machines, constructed and arranged to deflect orcrimp warp strands at longitudinally spaced points thereofand to holdsaid strands in deflected position during placing of the filler strands,the die being constructed, furthermore, to guide the filler strands intoposition and arranged to provide free passage ways or sheds for saidfiller strands.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class. mentioned, animproved mechanism for simultaneously feeding a plurality of fillerstrands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands. and embodying,in its construction, an improved mechanism for supporting the fillerstrands while being fed,

assuring correct placing thereof with reference to the warp strands,even in cases where the filler strands are quite fine and subject toeasy bending, such, for example, as that used in window screen fabrics.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved mechanism for feeding the filler strands into intermeshingrelation with the warp strands and embodying an improved intermittent orstepby-step action and a strand-gripping arrangement whereby the strandsare advanced in relatively short stretches at each step, thus assuringaccurate feeding of the strands and, furthermore, assuring feedingofcorrect lengths of filler strands to reach across the Warp strands andprovide extending ends for turning about the selvage warp strand toprovide the selvage edge of the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of theclass mentioned, an improved severing device for simultaneously severinga plurality of filler strands, when fed into position so as to provideslightly projecting end portions, positioned for bending the selvagewarp strand to provide a selvage edge.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved selvage turner for bending or turning the free ends of thefiller strands about the selvage warp strands so as to provide theopposite selvage edges of the fabric.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved selvage turner operating to turn simultaneously a plurality of,filler strand ends about the selvage warps and to turn them in oppositedirections.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved fabric feeding device, devised inxsuch a manner as to engagethe fabric at a multiplicity of points in the meshes thereof, so as toexert distributed pressure over the fabric surfaces in feeding thefabric forwardly, thus avoiding distortion to the fabric and preventingdislocation of the filler or warp strands.

A further object is to provide, in a ma chine of the class mentioned, afabric feeding device having an improved arrangement for maintaining thefabric-engaging member in engaging relation with the fabric and forautomatically engaging and disengaging it.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved gripping device for engaging each of the warp strands, andexerting a yielding frictional engagement therewith at pointsspacedlongitudinally so as to exert a resistance or drag to warp advancement,thus tensioning the warps for advantageous operation.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved take-up device, or drum, for winding up the fabric as it iswoven, and having an improved automatic operating mechanism to ,drive itat the correct speed to take; up the fabric as fast as it is woven.

Other objects and advantages of. the improved machine will be in partpointed out in connection with the following detailed disclosure of anillustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be inpart obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature, objects and advantagesof the invention, reference is had to the following detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiment and to the accompanying draw ings, in whichFig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic plan view of a wire fabric machineconstructed in accordance with the invention, parts being removed and insection to facilitate the disclosure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken approximately on the line3-3 of Fig. 2,. looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig.. 5 is an end elevation looking at the left end of Fig. 2 andshowing a detail of the intermittent drive for the filler strand feedingmechanism;

f Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially upon thesame plane as Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the upper crimping die;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of Fig. 7, parts being in sectionsubstantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the lower crimping die;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of ally completely fed intointermeshing relationon the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a face view of a section of one of the dies;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of a cutting plate for the filler strands;

Fig. 13 is an edge view of the cutter of Fig! 12, parts being in centrallongitudinal section;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged partially diagrammatic view of thefeeding mechanism for feeding the filler strands into intermeshingrelation with the warp strands;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the cuttermechanism for the filler strands;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the selvageturner;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the fabricfeeding mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan of the fabric take-up drum and theoperating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 19 is a detail enlarged plan view of one of the warp tensioninggrippers;

Fig. 20 is a left end elevation of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal central sectionof Fig.19; and

Fig. 22 is a right-hand elevational View of Fig. 19.

Referrin to the drawings for a detailed description o the preferredembodiment of the invention, as disclosed in the accompanying drawings,a framework 25 is provided, supporting the main operative elements ofthe machine. This framework may be of any preferred construction, but ispreferably of cast or pressed metal and, as shown, includes a horizontalbase member 26 with upright spaced end frames secured thereto and ayokeor upper spacing frame member 28 bolted to the upper terminals ofthe end frames. The main driving shaft 29 is shown as mounted for rotarymovement in the lower part'of the end frames 27 and may be driven bysuitable driving connections, such, for example, as the shaft 30carrying a pinion 31 intermeshing with the main driving gear 32 mountedupon the main shaft 29. The shaft 30 may be connected to an electricmotor' or other mo tive means.

The principal operative functions in making the woven wire fabric arecarried out in two major stages. At the first stage the die indicatedgenerally at 33 in Fig. 1 cooperates with the warp strands of the fabricto prepare them for reception of the filler or weft strands,-which arethen fed into position by the weft feed mechanism, indicated generat 34.As soon as the filler strands are with the warp strands, a cuttingmechanism is operated to sever the filler strands adjacent I to theselvage warp strand. At the second stage in the operation of the machinethe selvage turner indicated generally at 35 turns the ends of thefiller wires over the selvage warp strand so as to form the selvage edgeof the fabric. There are two of these selvage turners, one locatedadjacent each selvage edge of the fabric, and they are preferablyoperated at the same time to turn the ends of the filler strands whichproject slightly beyond the respective selvage warp strands. In theinterval between these two successive main stages, the fabric feedingmechanism 36 is operated to feed the fabric forwardly in the machine asufiicient distance to bring the filler strands which have just been fedinto position in operating; registry with the selvage turners.

The warp wires or strands indicated at A in Fig. 1 and other parts ofthe drawings, and the selvage warp strands A, which may be I slightlylarger than the other warps, are

held in position in the machine during the fabric forming operations bythe feeding mechanism 36, and a bank or series of gripping elements 37,which are preferably arranged for individually gripping each of the warpstrands, thus exerting a drag or resistance to forward movement thereof,and imparting the desired tension to hold them in correct operativeposition in the machine. The filler or weft strands are designated B,

' and the fabric C. The gauge or size of wire may'vary widely with thistype of machine, as the mechanism is particularly adapted forsatisfactory operation with large or small sizes of wire and the fillerstrand feeding mechanism will operate in a satisfactory manner uponlight flexible wires, as special provision is made to prevent bucklingthereof when fed into position, as more fully hereinafter described.

T he die construction The die 33 is constructed of complementary matingparts or sections, preferably arranged one above another, forming anupper die part 33 and a lower die part 33*, as shown best in detail inFigs. 7 to 11, inclusive. The upper die part is supported upon a bed 38(see Figs. 2, 3, and 4), which may be of i ed in the form of a movablecarriage slidable .up and down in appropriatesupporting guideways of theframework, while the upper bed 38 is mounted upon the framework instationary position thereon.

The carriage 39 is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly in itssupporting guideways by means of driving connections to the drivingshaft 29, embodying a pair of spaced cam arms, or links, 40 attached attheir upper ends to'the lower side of the carriage 39 which is shown asembodying a channel bar with downwardly directed flanges. A supportingand guiding mounting 41 is provided for the lower ends of each of thecam arms 40 to maintain them in correct driving position duringoperation. The cam arms 40 as shown are preferably looped about theshaft 29, and each carries a cam roller 42 positioned to rest upon themain shaft 29, so as to support the die carriage and being engageablewith an eccentric cam 43 upon the shaft 29 as the latter rotates. Thelower die is thus reciprocated, and thus periodically brings the lowerdie part 33 into cooperative relation with the upper die part 33*. Thecarriage 39 is preferably connected to the operating links 40 forvertical adjustment by means of the set screws 44, whereby thecooperative engaging action of the die parts may be radially adjusted.

Both upper and lower die parts are preferably removably clamped inposition upon the respective supporting beds by means of clampingbrackets 45, secured to the beds by bolts or screws 46. The diesupporting and clamping brackets 45, as shown in F 1g. 7,

may be formed with grooved edges having inclined laterally disposedfaces 47 engaging at one side a complementary inclined surface 48 oflugs 49 formed upon the die. At the other end the die is formed withlugs 50, each provided with set screws 51 adapted to engage a clampingbar or key 52 having an inclined face cooperating with the inclined face47 bracket 45 so as to firmly secure the die in position when the setscrews are tightened. By means of this clamping arrangement both upperand lower dies are firmly held in operative position and may also bereadily removed, adjusted or replaced.

As clearly seen in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, both upper and lower diesare of similar construction, each embodying a plurality of separate diebars or plates 53 having flat lateral sides adapted to contact with eachother to build up the complete die part. At one edge each die bar 53 hasa series of spaced projections 54 forming the active or working parts ofthe die and forming intervening recesses 55 substantially equal in crosssectional area with that of the projections. As clearly seen in Fig. 11,adjacent die bars have their projections and recesses in staggered oralternate arrangement so as to provide a checker-board formation whenthe die bars are completely assembled. Each projection 54 is speciallyformed to provide an outwardly disposed work or wire engaging faceincluding anticlinal surfaces 56 and longitudinally extending grooves orseats 57 aligned with each other in each die bar, whereby the warpstrand may be seated in the series of warp seats thus formed. Each dieprojection 54 is also provided at its work face with a groove or slot 58positioned transversely of the respective warp seat 57 and alsotransversely of the die bar, and is arranged to intersect and openthrough the warp seat. These slots 58 are adapted for the reception ofthe filler strands and their bottoms are positioned somewhat beneath thebottom of the respective Warp seats, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 10;that is, the filler strand receiving slots are somewhat deeper than theseats for receiving the warp strands. The slots 58 open through therespective work faces of the die, thus permitting the die parts toseparate from each other after the filler strands have been fed intoposition.

Also each die projection '54 is provided at its forward lateral sidetoward which the filler strands are fed with a small cup shapeddepression 59 positioned adjacent the bottom of'each slot andfunctioning as a guide for guiding the respective filler strands'intocorrect position during feeding thereof into intermeshing relation withthe warp strands.

It will now be readily understood that the upper and lower die members,or parts, by virtue of the checker-board arrangement described, are ofcomplementary formation and arranged to mate with each other so that therespective'projections 54 of one die part may enter-therespect'iverecesses 55 of the the spacing and number of weft wires which other diepart when the lower part is moved againstv the. upper part by action ofthe operating' mechanism. When one die part is moved against the otherthe anticlinalsurfaces 56 may engage with each, other, thus functioningas guiding surfaces.- It will be clear that as many individual die bars53 are employed as there are Warpv wires, and the number may be variedin accordance with the number of warp wires. .Also the length of eachdie bar, and the number of individual work faces will be dependent uponare to be simultaneously fed into intermeshing relation with the'warpwires, and both the length of the die bars and the number of work facesmay be varied in accordance with requirements. p

The filler-strand feeding As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 14, thefeeder for the filler strands is'mounted laterally a-djacentto the'dieor warp crimping mechanism so as to feed the desired number of fillerstrands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands. The embodimentshown provides for simultaneously feeding 12 filler wires into posit-ionand, of course, the number may be varied as desired. A supportingguideway, or plate, 60 (Fig. 14) is mounted upon the framework,extending transversely of the machine and carries a slidingreciprocatory crosshead 61, to which is pivotally connected a crank arm62 connected at its opposite end to a rotary disk 63 provided with aradial adjusting slot 64 for adjusting the stroke. The rotary disk iscarried by a shaft 65, mounted in vertical position in bearings carriedby a part of the framework. The reciprocating crosshead 61 provides acarriage for a plurality of grippers 66, arranged in a seriestransversely of the cross-head and providing an individual gripper foreach filler wire B.. These grippers are mounted upon the carriage inseries of blocks 67, held in place by a clamping bar 68, secured inposition upon the carriage. Spaced from the bank of grippers 66 aresimilar grippers 69 also arranged in a series extending approxi matelyparallel to the series of grippers 66. Grippers 69 may also be mountedin individual supporting blocks 70, mounted in a supporting plate 71,carried by the framework. Each filler strand B extends through a gripper66 and a gripper 69, these grippers thus cooperating to form a pair ofgrippers which are arranged to feed the respective wires B forwardly asthe grippers 66 are reciprocated with their supporting carriage. Thegrippers 66 and 69 may be of known construction, but it is of specialimportance that they are of such a nature as to engage the Wires with afirm non-yielding, non-slipping grip, to prevent relative movement ofthe wires in one direction, but to permit free and unresisted relativemovement thereof in the opposite direction. For this purpose grippers ofthe nature disclosed in Patent 1,103,316, issued to W. M. Roop on July14, 1914, are

crosshead 61 be relatively short as compared a with the width of thefabric, and therefore in the embodiment shown the stroke is of suchlength as to require four complete forward strokes of the crosshead inorder to feed a length of the wires B suflicient to extend across thefabric. It will, therefore, be seen that the wires B will be fedforwardly in an intermittent or step-by-step action in relatively shortstretches, the grippers 66' engaging the wires B at each advancement ofthe crosshead and pushing them forwardly through the grippers 69. Thisshort stroke step-bystep action assists in minimizing the tendency ofthe wires B to buckle incident to the compressional thrust thereonimparted by the feeding act-ion.

The buckling tendency is still further minimized by an improved guidingand supporting mechanism for supporting and directing strands B atspaced points therealong between the two banks of feeding grippers. Inthe illustrative embodiment this guiding and supporting mechanism isshown in the form of bars 72, 73, and 74, provided with apertures forthe reception of the strands and slidably supported by the guideway forlateral sliding movement. These guiding and supporting bars are arrangedsubstantially parallel with each other andwith the two banks ofgrippers, and when the crosshead is in retracted position the bars willbe about equally spaced from each other, and from the banks of grippers,as shown in Fig. 14. The unsupported stretches of wire will, at

. all'times, be very short, and the buckling tendency will accordinglybe negligible. In order to support the guiding and supporting bars inoperative position, sliding rods 75,

76, 77 are connected in pairs at the ends thereof, respectively, to thesupporting bars 72, '7 3 and 74, their opposite ends extending insliding relation through apertures in the bar 68 carried by thecrosshead. Limiting lugs 78 may be mounted on thesesupporting bars,positioned to engage with the forward face of the bar 68, so as to limitthe relative retraction of the guiding and supporting bars duringretraction of the crosshead. When the crosshead is moving forwardly fromthe position shown in Fig. 14, it advances to contact the supporting bar72, which then moves forwardly with the crosshead, the guiding rods 75sliding throughthe guiding apertures in the crosshead. In a similarmanner the bar 72 moves forwardly until it contacts with bar 73, and thelatter then moves forwardly to contact with bar 74, which may also bemounted for slidable movement toward the inner bank of grippers 69;During retraction of the crosshead, the lugs 78 of the guiding rods 75contact with the bar 68 to retract the bar 72, and the other guidingbars 73 and 74 are similarly retracted by their respective guiding andsupporting rods.

An intermittent stop movement is provided for driving the shaft 65, andthrough it crosshead 61, a form of such stop movement being shown inFigs. 2 and 5. This stop movement embodying the mutilated gears 79 and80 is driven from the main shaft 29. The gear 80 is connected to a shaft81 carrying a toothed gear 82, meshing with gear 83 on a shaft 84, andpower is transmitted from the gear 84 through the beveled gears 85 tothe shaft 65. These driving connections are proportioned so as to turnthe shaft exactly four revolutions to feed the strands B forwardly infour strokes, whereupon the shaft 65 will be stopped for a period by thestop movement, during which period the fabric, under construction willbe fed forwardly to another operative stage, as more fully describedbelow:

The filler stand cutter An automatic cutter is provided for severing thefiller wires B when they have been fed into intermeshing relation withthe warp strands. This cutter, as best shown in Figs. 6, 14, and 15,embodies a cutter bar 86 (Figs. 12 and 13) having hardened steelthimbles 87 with centrally disposed openings or passageways through themfor receiving the strands. These passageways may beflared at one end ofthe thimbles so as to guide the strands in their passage, and theopposite ends of the thimbles are provided with sharp corners at theends of the passageways, providing cutting edges against which thestrands are severed. The cutter bar 86 is mounted for longitudinalsliding, reciprocating movement in a groove or channel formed in thelower inner edge of the plate 71, which is supported in stationaryposition upon the framework. Adjacent to this cutter bar 86 is ahardened steel stationary cutterplate 88 having vertically disposedslots 89 spaced to correspond with the spacing of the thimbles 87 andrespectively positioned for alignment therewith. The adjacent face ofthe cutter bar 86 slides in contacting relation with the inner face ofthe plate 88, whereby the filler wires B may all be severed when thecutter bar is longitudinally projected. The cutter is positioned so asto cut the wires B, with the severed ends thereof projecting, adjacentto and justoutside of the selvage warp strand A, the importance of whichwill soon be seen.

The cutter bar 86 is automatically operated by means of a lever 90pivoted to a bracket 91 which may be secured to the plate 71. This leverdepends from the stationary bracket 91, and is biased into one extremeposition by means of a coil compression spring 92. carries a cam roller93 positioned to engage a cam plate 94 mounted upon the movable carriage39, carrying the lower die member. It will, therefore, be seen thatseverance of the wires B takes place as the carriage 39 descends,bringing the inclined cam edge 95 of the cam plate into contact with theroller 93, thus projectingthe cutter bar 86 and severing all the wiresat a single stroke. The cutter bar moves quickly, severing the wiresabruptly before complete downward At itslower end the operating lever 90movement of the carriage 39. As soon as the wires are severed the endsthereof maymove downwardly through the open-ended slots 89 of the cutterplate, thus freeing the ends from the slots and avoiding obstruction tothe forward feeding movement of the fabric.

The fabric feed Intermittent feeding mechanism, indicated generally at36 is arranged to feed the fabric forwardly in intermittent steps ofdefinite lengths, whereby sections of the fabric partly completed at oneoperative stage are fed forwardly and correctly positioned in the nextoperative stage for operation thereon by the machine mechanisms. As bestshown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 17, this feed mechanism comprises a feed bar,or table 96, extending transversely of the fabric under construction andmounted by rails or supporting bars 97 for reciprocation parallel to theplane of the fabric longitudinally of the machine. This feed bar islongitudinally reciprocated in timed relation by means of a cam 98,mounted upon the main shaft 29 and cooperating to oscillate a pivotedlever 99 through a cam roller 100 carried by the lever. An adjustablelink 101 connects the free end of lever 99 with one end of a rock arm102, the opposite end of which is connected to a rock shaft 102*,carrying near opposite ends thereof spaced crank arms 102', which areconnected at their free ends to the feed table 96, through connectinglinks 102. A tensioned spring 103 is connected to the feed drivingconnections to retract the feed table after it has been advanced by thecam 98.

The reciprocating feed table 96 is of im proved construction, arrangedto engage and cooperate with the meshes of the fabric at points thereofdistributed over a considerable area. The lower supporting base plate104 of the feed table is preferably in the form of a channel withdownwardly directed flanges, and carries upon its upper face amultiplicityof fabric engaging lugs, or dogs 105, arranged in a seriesextending transvers'ely of the fabric and in longitudinal rows,

arranged and proportioned to respectively engage in the meshes of thefabric. The longitudinal rows of dogs 105 are preferably formed onindividual bars 106, each having slotted ends for the reception ofaninwardly disposed flange of an angle bar 107, which is secured to thebase plate 104, thus locking bars 106 are preferably spaced apartslightly so as to provide intervening longitudinal channels for thereception of the warp strands of the fabric. Each dog is provided withan abrupt forward face 108 positioned to positively engage with theadjacent filler wire and the top surface 109 thereof inclines rearwardlyat such an angle as to permit the fabric to slide thereover when thefeed table is reversely moved or the fabric is forwardly movedrelatively to the feed table. The upper corners, both forwardly andlaterally of the dogs 105, are preferably chamfered so as to facilitateengagement with the fabric meshes.

Above the dogs 105 are positioned holding bars, or rollers 110, arrangedin parallel relation with each other and extending transversely of thefabric, as many of these holding bars being provided as required for theparticular class of service. These holding bars are spaced to correspondto the longitudinal spacing of the transverse series of dogs 105 so asto engage the fabric adjacent to each series of dogs. The holding barsare biased as by gravity in the embodiment shown, so as to hold thefabric in'engaged position with the feed dogs. The holding bars areshown as mounted in spaced slots formed in plates 111 carried by thebase plate 104,

the extensions or spindles 112 of the rollers extending into theseslots, thus permitting freeand unobstructed up-and-down movement of theindividual holding bars 110. It will, therefore, be seen that the fabricis engaged by the feed dogs 105 at a large number of points distributedover a large section of the fabric, and the dogs are maintained inengagement by the action of the holding bars 110. By means-of thisarrangement of the dogs, the feeding stress upon the fabric iseffectually distributed, and the tendency to distort the fabric, or todisplace the filler wires B during feeding, is practically eliminated.This feature is of especial importance in wire fabric machines of thisclass, inasmuch as there is considerable tension upon the warp strandsoccasioned by action of the strand grippers 37, in order to impart thedesired tension for effective operation, and therefore considerableforce is required to be exterted by the feed mechanism to feed thefabric forwardly.

A cam plate 113'is mounted for sliding movement upon the base plate 104of the feed table adjacent to the projecting spindles 112 of the holdingbars 110, one of these cam plates preferably being positioned at eachend of the holding rollers. The cam plate 113 may be mounted adjacent tothe supporting plate 111 by means of pin and slot connections 114,'andthe upper face of the cam plate is provided with cam notches 115 havingrearwardly inclined cam faces disposed for engagement with theprotruding spindles 112. A flexible connection 116 connects the camplate with a stationary part 117 of the frame, a projecting lug 118being mounted upon the cam plate to which the connection 116 may beattached, as shown. A stop 119 is mounted upon the frame part 117 inposition to engage with the lug 118 as the feed table is 'movedforwardly. By means of this arrangement it will be seen that the lug 118engages the stop 119 upon forward feeding movement of thefeed table,thus rela tively retracting the cam bar 113 and simultaneously raisingall the holding bars 110 through engagement of their spindles 112 withthe cam faces of the cam notches 115. The result of this is that theholding action of the holding bars is terminated, and the fabric maythen freely disengage the feed dogs, thus permitting unobstructedretracted movement of the feed table with reference to the fabric, whichmay then slide over the inclined surfaces 109 of the feed dogs. At theend of the retractive stroke of the feed table the flexible connection116 will be tightened to move the cam bar 113 to its normal position, asshown in Fig. 117 thus permitting the holding bars 110 to fall againinto their holding position.

T he selvage turner As above described, the filler strands B are fedinto intermeshing relation with the warp strands with their forward endsspaced a short distance beyond the far selvage warp, and the strandsevering mechanism cuts the strands so the opposite ends thereof lie adjacent to and just outside the near selvage warp, as can be seen inFig. 1. The selvage turners 35 are positioned adjacent opposite edges ofthe fabric, this mechanism being substantially duplicated at both sidesof the machine and cooperating with the projecting filler strand ends toturn them sharply about the adjacent selvage warp, thus binding thefiller strands to the selvage warp and forming the selvage edge of thefabric. This mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 16,includes upper and lower jaw members 120, 121, mounted respectively onthe upper die bed or frame 38 and the lower die bed or carriage 39,these jaws being appropriately carried by brackets, which may be securedto the respective beds, as desired, and the lower jaw therefore beingmovable up and down as a unit with the lower carriage 39.

The upper jaw 120 carries a series of lugs or teeth 122 aligned witheach other longi-- tudinally of the machine and positioned for engagingthe adjacent selvage warp strand, and the lower jaw is provided withsimilar selvage teeth 123, similarly arranged but opposing the upper setand in staggered or alternate relation therewith whereby the upper teethare aligned with the spaces between the lower teeth, and vice versa, andalternate upper and lower teeth engage the selvage warp at successiveconsecutive points therealong. These teeth are of similar constructioneach having a longitudinally extending warp engaging face 124, coveringthe complete width of each tooth, while laterally disposed warp guidingand holding fingers 125 and 126 are laterally spaced apart slightly toprovide longitudinally extending grooves 127 in longitudinal alignmentfor the reception of the warp strand. These warp engaging faces arepreferably antifaces 129, sloping inwardly toward the adjacenttransverse groove 128. As the jaws are closed it will therefore be seenthat the filler strand ends which are positioned to overlie therespective adjacent selvage teeth will be engaged by these guidingsurfaces as the jaws close so as to guide them into the respective slots128, while the selvage warp strand will be seated in the longitudinallyaligned grooves 127. Due to the fact that the selvage warps aretensioned and, furthermore, that the teeth are staggered, said warpswill be tightly drawn across the apices of the respective anticlinalsurfaces 124 and the filler strand ends which lie against these apicesand underneath the selvage warp strands at these points will be forcedto seat firmly in the respective slots 128. Each set or series ofselvage teeth is preferably removably mounted upon an appropriatesupport such as a supporting plate 130 by means of a removable clampingplate 131, having a rib engaging in a groove formed in the side of theplate 130 with which the teeth are integrally formed, and each plate 130is in the form of a carriage mounted for retractive movement upon therespective supporting jaw, as by means of pin and slot connections 132.Each carriage is also resiliently urged into its advance position bymeans of compression springs 133, shown as surrounding the guide rods134 mounted upon each carriage and adapted to slide in apertures in thesupporting plates 135. Adjustable stops 136 are also mounted in thesupporting plates 135 in position to limit the retractive movement ofeach carriage. The closing of the jaws upon the fabric will, therefore,cause automatic retraction of the carriages and the selvage teeththereon, so that each set of teeth will be retracted a distance limitedby the stops 136.

Adjacent to each selvage tooth 122 and 123 is 2. lug or plate 137,positioned to engage the respective ends of the filler strands whichproject slightly from left to right in Fig. 16 beyond the adjacent faceof the tooth so as to slightly overlap at its end with the lug 137, thelatter thus functioning as a turner to bend the filler strand endstransversely adjacent the selvage warp upon retraction of the respectivecarriages 130, as above described. During this turning action it will beunderstood that, as above described, the warp strands will be firmlyengaged and tensioned by the engaging selvage teeth and that the fillerstrand ends will be firmly bound in the respective seats or slots 128 byengagement of the warp strands with the respective filler strand endsduring bending action of the respective deflectors or turner plates137'. When thisrelation obtains it will be seen that the warp strandsfunction as abutments for each adjacent filler strand end, against whichit is pressed by action of the. deflector plates 137, the result beingthat the filler strand ends are bent or deflected laterally close to theoutside of each warp strand. 4

The deflectors 137 on both upper and lower jaws 120, 121 are mounted onrespective supporting carriages 138 carried by the respective jaws andmounted thereon for lateral bodily movement toward and away from theselvage teeth. These upper and lower supporting carriers are operativelyconnected by means of a connecting plate 139 (Fig. 6), bolted to theupper carriage and slidably engaging guideways 140 on the lower carriagewhereby both carriages are constrained to move laterally in unison.Lateral movement of carriages 138 is effected by driving connections toa cam 141 shown as mounted upon the main driving gear 32 upon the mainshaft 29.

'A pivoted lever .142 carries at its free end a cam roller engaging inthe cam groove of cam 141 and normally held in cam-engaging position bymeans of a spring pressed guiding rod 143 pivoted to the lever 142 andslidably engaging an aperture in the base plate 26. A link 144 connectslever 142 with a crank arm 145 on a rock shaft 146 having spaced crankarms connected by links 147 to oppositely disposed bell-crank levers148. These bell-crank levers are mounted on the adjacent respectiveupper selvage jaws 120 at opposite sides of the machine, and the loweror dey pending arm thereof is connected to the plate 139 by a link.149,thereby effecting inward and outward oscillatory movement of thecarriages 138, as the bell-crank levers rock by the operative connectiondescribed. The movement of the carriages will be timed to pro'ect thedeflector plates 137 outwardly tOv ard the respective selvage teeth whenthe latter are in engagement with the selvage warpand filler strandends, as above described. The efiect of this action is that saiddeflector plates will be projected over the tops of the respectiveadjacent guiding fingers 126 of the selvage teeth, thus carrying theengaging strand ends inwardly around the warp strands in such a manneras to form a close gripping bend of the respective filler strand endsover the selvage warps. Due to the alternating arrangement of theselvage teeth 122, 123, as above described, and to the correspondingalternating arrangement of the projecting ends of the filler strands,with reference to the warp strands, it will be observed that the ends ofthe filler strands are reversely bent about the warp strands,

and that these reversals are in alternate relation in the embodimentdisclosed. The guiding fingers 126 are slightly shorter than the fingers125, allowing ample room for the entryof the plates 137 and permittingthe latter to be projected quite closely to the surface of the selvagewarp so as to form a close loop in the filler strand ends. Retraction ofthe deflator plates 137 is effected at the appropriate period by theoperating mechanism.

It will be observed that the upward movement of the lower selvage jaw121 will carry the fabric C upwardly with it into cooperative engagementwith the upper selvage 'aw, and when the jaw 121 is retracted the fabricC will disengage the upper selvage teeth due to fabric tension, and whenthe fabric reaches its normal plane intermediate the upper and lowerwide open jaws, the lower selvage teeth will retract from engagementwith the fabric, thus leaving the latter free to be forwardly fed orotherwise manipulated. The upper and lower carriages 130 are projectedto normal positions by action of the springs 133 and the selvage teeththerefore resume normal position with reference to the deflector plates137 as the jaw 121 descends.

Fabric take-up di'vice As best shown in Figs. 5 and 18, atake-upmechanism is provided for the fabric C, as weaving thereof is completed,embodying a reel or drum 150, rotatably mounted in bearings 151 carriedby brackets 152 mounted upon the machine frame. These bearings arearranged to permit convenient insertion or removal of the drum, and tothis end a retractable rotary bearing member 153 is provided with a stem154 extending through the rear end of the bearing sleeve 155, while acoiled compression spring 156 normally projects the rotary bearingmember 153 outwardly. The re'el shaft has opposite squared ends157, oneend engaging in a corresponding seat in the bearing member 153 and theother engaging in a similarly formed seat in a ratchet member orfriction drum 158. This friction drum has a laterally extending circularlug 159, rotatably engaging in the bearing 151 and rotatably mountedupon this lug is the reciprocating arm 160, carrying a friction pawl 161adapted to engage the surface of the friction drum 158 to move it in onedirection as the arm 160 is oscillated. If desired any convenient knownholding device may also be provided to prevent reverse rotation of thereel 150. For oscillating the arm 160 a yielding link 162 is connectedto the oscillating feed table 36. This link 162 is provided with alongitudinally yield able joint 163 having a compression spring 164,which is of the desired strength to drive the take-up reel to keep thefabric at the desired tension and also to drive the reel at differentspeeds to compensate for the difierent

